“No, this is way too ambitious for me”

The adventure began at the motorcycle fair in 2023. I had already seen the Travel Trophy in an advertisement: a week of off-road adventure with other Ténéré riders. My first thought was: how cool! But immediately after that I thought: no, this is way too ambitious for me.

Until I met Maarten and Jessica at the motorcycle fair in Utrecht. I could ask all my questions, and what enthusiastic people! Slowly my insecurities disappeared and I became very enthusiastic again. Together with my partner Kees I signed up for the 2023 edition.

This trip turned out to be one never to forget. Already on the first day I faced an unexpected challenge. At a river crossing I lost my balance and went down, falling unhappily on a stone. The result? A hole in my engine block. Fortunately, I was not alone. The indestructible Ténéré team spirit sprang into action immediately: fellow travelers jumped in and with some malleable metal the hole was repaired so that I could continue my journey.

From our special starting location in Dreux, we embarked on a beautiful journey on winding roads, across the diverse landscape, all the way to the Spanish Pyrenees. Despite an ankle injury from my fall on the first day, I persevered. The feeling of victory when I reached the finish line made all the pain and effort more than worth it. One thing I knew for sure: in 2024, we will join again!

This time our adventure began in Germany, after which we drove through Austria and Slovenia, ending in Croatia, a country that had been on my wish list for a long time. For this edition I wanted to be better prepared, so I decided to take an off-road course with Peter, one of the instructors of the Travel Trophy. My goal was to ride more offroad than in 2023, and I certainly succeeded!

The routes were again breathtaking, with endless gravel roads and deep puddles due to heavy rain. The weather was quite variable this year. I rode through dense fog, enjoyed sunny moments, braved strong winds, and endured numerous rain showers. But the atmosphere remained great. The positivity of the participants and the excellent organization ensured that no one was discouraged by the weather.

It was great to see old acquaintances again and meet new people. Like last year, the atmosphere was great, the routes were perfectly chosen, and the trip was organized to perfection.

I already can’t wait for next year!

“There it was, lying halfway in a mud puddle”

Since June 2023, I’ve been the proud owner of a Ténéré World Raid. From the moment I got the bike, I knew one thing for sure: one day, I would take part in the Travel Trophy! This year, I had a gap year, and it turned out to be the perfect opportunity to make that dream a reality. The 2024 edition was my very first time participating, and I have to admit, I was quite nervous. I’m still pretty young, and joining a large group of people I didn’t know felt intimidating.

But all that nervousness disappeared on the very first day. I’ve never felt so welcomed by a group before. Even as the “youngster,” I quickly felt completely accepted, and the friendly conversations started almost immediately. When it comes to off-road riding, I had little experience with my Ténéré, though I’d done some off-roading with my previous bike. Looking back, I probably should’ve practiced more before the Travel Trophy. That said, on day one, as we warmed up our skills on the motocross track, I quickly built confidence in my bike, which gave me not only a sense of trust but also an overwhelming feeling of pride and accomplishment.

And then there was the rain. Lots of rain. But honestly, it added something special to the experience: it gave me that iconic Ténéré Spirit feeling. By the time we reached Croatia, the weather had improved significantly. However, I’ll never forget the moment in Croatia when I dropped my bike for the first time. There it was, lying halfway in a mud puddle. Of course, I knew this was part of the risk, but it still startled me, and I decided to stick to the paved roads for the rest of the day. Losing my confidence in off-road riding was tough, and I was really frustrated about it. That evening, Angelo came up to me and said: “Daan, buddy, come on! Let’s tackle that last stretch. It’s manageable, we’ll take it slow, and we’ll get your confidence back.” And we did. That ride was a turning point for me, and I’ll always be grateful to Angelo for helping me through it.

Crossing the finish line on the final day was one of the most incredible moments I’ve ever experienced. I felt a true sense of accomplishment—not because I finished first (the Travel Trophy isn’t a race), but because I overcame my own limits. The off-road challenges, the adventure, meeting new people—that’s what mattered to me. And that’s what still sticks with me. I met so many amazing people during the Travel Trophy, and I’m still in touch with many of them. In fact, we’ve already planned another ride together, and I love that this experience has led to lasting connections.

In short, I can confidently say that the Travel Trophy 2024 was the most incredible journey I’ve ever been on!

“The Ténéré Travel Trophy felt like opening a door to endless possibilities”

When I signed up for the Travel Trophy, I had no idea what to expect. This was my very first off-road adventure, as well as my first 1,000+ km trip with my newly purchased Ténéré 700. Not knowing what lay ahead, I decided to take things as they came and simply enjoy every moment to the fullest. I prepared myself as best I could, relying on the very practical TTT guide and advice I thought would come in handy. While I didn’t have clear expectations, being well-prepared allowed me to relax and fully embrace the experience.

Looking back, this year’s edition was overflowing (pun intended) with memories and fun moments—it’s hard to choose just one that stands out. On the motorcycle side, I’ll never forget riding through giant puddles of mud and water. I felt like a little kid finally allowed to jump in puddles, all while marveling at how my Ténéré 700 handled everything like a tank. Of course, I stayed focused to avoid stalling in the middle!

On the human side, I met some incredible people. Every evening, we shared stories about the day’s adventures, joked around, and bonded over our shared passion for motorcycles. These connections made the trip even more special, and I’m happy to say we’ve kept in touch and are already looking forward to meeting again at Travel Trophy 2025.

As an overall experience, what struck me the most was the breathtaking landscapes. Riding through places I would never have explored on foot—cruising through open fields, mountain trails, and remote areas—made me feel so small and humbled by the beauty of it all. It’s something I’ll never forget.

Crossing the finish line brought a mix of emotions. I felt relieved that I had made it to the end without any major issues or crashes, but also a bit nostalgic as I realized the adventure was coming to an end. I wanted the trip to go on for a few more days—or even weeks. But that bittersweet feeling didn’t last long, as the final evening brought everyone together for a concert and a few beers, creating the perfect end to an unforgettable journey.

This trip was special for many reasons. It was my first chance to truly test my Ténéré 700 in these conditions, which confirmed that it’s the perfect bike for me. The journey also took us through four countries I’d never visited before. Seeing them from the perspective of my bike made the experience even more unique and memorable.

The Travel Trophy felt like opening a door to endless possibilities. It’s inspired me to search for more off-road adventures across Europe, and I’m already dreaming of the next time I’ll take my bike into uncharted terrain.

“A special way to get to know your customers better”

For us as a dealer, the Travel Trophy is a fantastic event to participate in alongside our customers. There is a group of Ténéré riders who are eager to ride off-road but for various reasons haven’t done it yet. It is important for us to offer our customers the experience that matches the bike. The Travel Trophy is a great opportunity to get familiar with off-road riding in a relaxed and welcoming environment, alongside like-minded riders. It’s also a special way to get to know your customers better and share new adventures together.

Personally, the Travel Trophy was a great opportunity to take some time for myself. I learned how to set boundaries and rediscovered camping. I met new people, gained a lot of riding experience, and so much more. I encountered myself in new ways, and it was a valuable experience.

Will I go again next year? Absolutely! If possible, I would love to join again. In preparation, I would take a course to become more comfortable riding in sand and over rocks. I would also make a point of stopping more often to enjoy the surroundings, rather than just focusing on the riding. This past edition had a lot of rain, which made camping an extra challenge. Although sleeping in a tent wasn’t always the most comfortable, it only added to the adventure and made it more memorable. A bed would be a nice change next time, but camping was still an amazing experience.

“Honestly, I had my doubts when I signed up”

As the oldest participant of the Travel Trophy (77 years old), I’d like to share my experience. When we gathered in Winterswijk to travel to the starting location with Sem and Rick, I didn’t know what to expect. The biggest surprise was the age difference between me and the youngest participant—55 years! Yet, our shared passion for motorcycling bridged all differences, and we instantly clicked.

Honestly, I had my doubts when I signed up, especially about riding off-road with the Ténéré 700. I have over 50 years of experience in motocross, grass track racing, and even rallies, but always on lighter bikes, up to 450cc. Initially, I started cautiously, but I soon found great joy in it. Riding through the trails while standing on the footpegs was exhilarating, and I enjoyed it immensely. Fortunately, my fitness wasn’t an issue either.

Another reason I joined was the idea of sleeping in a tent. As someone used to traveling in a camper, this felt like a great challenge and an essential part of the adventure. To my surprise, I slept wonderfully in the tent. I’d strongly recommend keeping this aspect in the Travel Trophy—it’s part of what makes it special.

Thanks to Sem and Rick, I quickly found myself in a great group, and we often rode together, which added to the fun and camaraderie. Will I join again next year? The idea is tempting, though I initially thought this would be a one-time adventure to try.

I want to thank the organization and all the participants for an amazing time. It was an unforgettable experience!